The term “people of color” is primarily used in the United States and Canada to refer to individuals who are not classified as white. It encompasses a wide range of racial and ethnic groups, including but not limited to Black, Indigenous, Asian, and Hispanic communities. The term emphasizes shared experiences of systemic racism and marginalization that these groups often face.
Jerel Ezell, in a recent article on Politico, insists the term isn’t applicable, suggesting it may hurt Democrats more than galvanize them.
“The 2024 presidential election left the Democrats’ multiracial coalition in tatters. Nonwhite people voted in higher percentages for Trump in 2024 than they did in 2020, in some cases by double-digit increases.”
“Democrats are now in the thick of a come-to-Jesus reckoning over these losses, and it should begin with this obvious truth: There is no deep cultural, social, economic, or political linkage between Black, Latino, Indigenous, and Asian Americans — at least not one that can be leveraged by the party for votes.”
Ezell’s point is solid. For starters, Asians, Indians, and Hispanics don’t have nearly as many race-related obstacles as Blacks. Second, aside from not being White, there is not a lot of similarity or cohesion among the aforementioned groups.
But – some will say we still need a term to classify non-Whites.
The origins of “people of color” can be traced back to the colonial era, when it was used to describe free people of mixed African and European ancestry. Over time, it has been embraced in various contexts, including academia and social justice movements like Black Lives Matter. However, some individuals express discomfort with the term, feeling it oversimplifies or homogenizes distinct cultural identities..